Patents Examined by Afework Demisse
  • Patent number: 9590524
    Abstract: A power converter system configured to supply DC power to a load is provided, comprising a power converter device responsive to an AC input voltage and configured to provide an output DC voltage; an output voltage loop controller in operable communication with the power converter; an output current loop controller in operable communication with the power converter; an output power loop controller in operable communication with the power converter; and a foldback controller in operable communication with the power converter. The output voltage loop controller, the output current loop controller, the output power loop controller, and the foldback controller together control the power converter to provide a multi-sloped output characteristic, including constant output voltage in voltage mode, increased output current in a first constant power mode, decreased output current and voltage in a foldback mode, and increasing output current and decreasing output voltage in a second constant power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Boris S. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 9590495
    Abstract: An embodiment holdup time circuit of a bridgeless power factor correction circuit comprises a charge device, an energy storage apparatus and a discharge device. The charge device comprises a first terminal coupled to a bridgeless power factor correction circuit and a second terminal coupled to the energy storage apparatus. The discharge device comprises a first terminal coupled to the energy storage apparatus and a second terminal coupled to the bridgeless power factor correction circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUTUREWEI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Dianbo Fu, Hengchun Mao, Bing Cai
  • Patent number: 9590501
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fast load transient response power supply system using dynamic reference voltage generation. A system may comprise, for example, at least power supply circuitry, voltage reference circuitry and dynamic reference generation circuitry. The power supply circuitry may be configured to generate an output voltage (e.g., for driving a load) based on a power supply input voltage. The voltage reference circuitry may be configured to generate a reference voltage for use in controlling the generation of the output voltage. The dynamic reference generation circuitry may be configured to generate a dynamic reference voltage as the input voltage for the power supply circuitry based on the reference voltage and the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Bin Zhao, Siqiang Fan
  • Patent number: 9571027
    Abstract: Provided are a power conversion device control device and a power conversion device control method, which are capable of reducing harm to other electronic devices and electromagnetic noise due to a switching frequency compared to the related art. Carrier change patterns of the respective phases, which are defined by parameters of an average switching frequency, a spectral diffusion index, and a repetition frequency, are generated so that at least the carrier change pattern of one phase differs from the carrier change patterns of the other phases. Semiconductor switching elements are controlled as instructed by duty command values while the switching frequency is switched for each phase separately, from one frequency to another sequentially based on carriers output in patterns that follow the generated carrier change patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Miyake
  • Patent number: 9568927
    Abstract: A modulated digital input signal is passed through a conditioning circuit to generate a first input signal. An error amplifier circuit receives the first input signal and a second input signal, and controls the operation of a MOS transistor to generate an output signal that is current modulated. The output signal is sensed to generate a feedback signal. A switching circuit selectively applies the feedback signal as the second input signal in response to a transition of the modulated digital input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state. The switching circuit alternatively selectively applies a fixed reference signal as the second input signal to the error amplifier in response to a transition of the modulated digital input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Tom Youssef, Alessandro Gasparini, Yamu Hu, Naren K. Sahoo, Anthony Junior Casillan
  • Patent number: 9570983
    Abstract: An electronic system includes a multiple POL regulators that supply a regulated voltage to a component within the electronic system. A phase spreading scheme may be implemented so that the POL regulators operate under various phases to reduce voltage noise, high input capacitance, and high radiated emissions. One phase spreading scheme includes a single POL regulator controlling phase spreading so that the other POL regulators operate under different phases. Another phase spreading scheme includes an upstream POL regulator determining a phase offset that may be passed to a downstream POL regulator so that the downstream POL regulator may operate under a different phase relative to the upstream POL regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony E. Baker, Don R. Dignam, Harvey Hum, Jian Meng
  • Patent number: 9570988
    Abstract: This relates to systems and processes for programming parameters of a controller of a power converter. In one example, a predetermined signal may be applied to the input or output terminals of the power converter to unlock the controller and cause the controller to enter a programming mode. While in the programming mode, one or more additional predetermined signals may be applied to the terminals of the power converter to program one or more parameters of the controller. Once the desired parameters have been programmed, another predetermined signal may be applied to the terminals of the power converter to cause the controller to exit the programming mode and enter a locked mode. The predetermined signals applied to the terminals of the power converter can include an ac or dc signal having a predetermined pattern of changes in frequency, amplitude, and/or magnitude that are applied for a fixed or variable duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford James Walker, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 9557754
    Abstract: A method of switching taps of an on-load tap changer includes providing a main finger, a first side finger including a first solid state switch and a second side finger including a second solid state switch. The main finger, the first side finger and the second side finger are utilized to provide a connection between the taps and a power terminal of the on-load tap changer. The method also includes triggering the on-load tap changer to shift the fingers from a first tap to a second tap of the on-load tap changer when a tap change signal is received and utilizing the first solid state switch and the second solid state switch to commutate a current during the tap change operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ara Panosyan, Eva-Maria Baerthlein, Simon Herbert Schramm, Stefan Schroeder, Rohit Kumar Gupta, Pinwan Thiwanka Bandara Wijekoon, Malcolm Graham Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9548666
    Abstract: A circuit for use in a switched mode power supply comprising includes an integrated circuit, a transformer, a capacitor, a low voltage circuit and a current limiting resistor. The IC jitters the switching frequency of the switch based on a bias voltage of the integrated circuit. The IC also includes a current source configured to supply current for operation of the switching regulator when insufficient current is available from the bias input pin. The transformer includes primary, secondary and auxiliary windings. The primary winding receives a rectified line voltage and is coupled to the switch. The capacitor is coupled between the bias input pin and ground. The low voltage circuit is coupled to the auxiliary winding, and provides current to the bias input pin. The current limiting resistor limits current produced by the low voltage circuit to less than that required for operation of the IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Block, Matt E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 9541941
    Abstract: An energy harvesting interface receives an electrical signal from an inductive transducer and supplies a supply signal. The interface includes an input branch with a first switch and a second switch connected together in series between a first input terminal and an output terminal. The interface further includes a third switch and a fourth switch connected together in series between a second input terminal and the output terminal. A first electrical-signal-detecting device, coupled across the second switch, detects a first threshold value of an electric storage current in the inductor of the transducer. A second electrical-signal-detecting device, coupled across the fourth switch, detects whether the electric supply current that flows through the fourth switch reaches a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value. The second threshold is derived from the electric storage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Stefano Ramorini, Alessandro Gasparini, Alberto Cattani, Federica Papotti
  • Patent number: 9537397
    Abstract: A converter having an inductor, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch connected between the other ends of the inductor and the second switch. The converter is adapted to turn ON/OFF individually the first switch, the second switch, the third switch and the fourth switch so as to convert a voltage applied between the other ends of the first switch and the second switch. Also included is a diode, a maintaining device and a release device. The generating device generates small/large output electric current in correspondence with high/low of a voltage of a connection node between the semiconductor transistor and the resistor, and increases the output electric current by switching a voltage applied on the third end from a first voltage to a second voltage lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LIMITED
    Inventor: Tsuguo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9535441
    Abstract: A power supply efficiently suppresses transient voltages by storing the maximum charge expected in the transient and releasing it during the transient event at a rate in an equal but opposite amount to the transient, preventing the battery voltage from collapsing. The described power supply provides improved efficiency compared to conventional architectures for transient suppression, thus increasing the length of time between battery charges and creating a better user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: QUANTANCE, INC.
    Inventors: Vikas Vinayak, Serge Francois Drogi
  • Patent number: 9531274
    Abstract: A resonant converter, a power supply and a power controlling method thereof are provided. The power supply includes a resonant converter which includes a square wave generator configured to alternately turn on and off first and second switches according to a frequency to generate a square wave, a resonant wave generator configured to generate a resonant wave corresponding to the square wave and a rectifier configured to output a voltage corresponding to the resonant wave; and a controller configured to control a frequency modulation of the resonant converter, wherein the controller includes a variable switching circuit configured to increase the frequency of the resonant converter in response to the resonant converter entering a capacitive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won-myung Woo, Jin-hyung Lee, Gil-yong Chang
  • Patent number: 9531190
    Abstract: A bi-directional converter voltage controlled current system and methods are disclosed. A bi-directional converter provides a bi-directional current to an electrical bus according to a variable duty-cycle control signal. Also, a bi-directional current sensing sensor senses the bi-directional current to provide a sensor voltage signal proportional to the converter current. Further, a variable duty-cycle controller controls a duty-cycle of the variable duty-cycle control signal to control a voltage of the electrical bus based on an error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert Matthew Martinelli
  • Patent number: 9520764
    Abstract: Methods and systems for bi-directional multi-port power conversion systems and applications are disclosed. In some sample embodiments, current-modulating power converters can be used to provide conversion between synchronous and asynchronous power. In some sample embodiments, current-modulating power converters can perform power conversion can be performed to and from three-phase AC with an active neutral line. In some sample embodiments, current-modulating power converters can convert between synchronous and asynchronous power and also support three-phase AC with active neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: IDEAL POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Bundschuh, William C. Alexander, Guy Michael Barron, Christopher Cobb, Paul Roush
  • Patent number: 9515487
    Abstract: A power flow control apparatus comprising a current distribution circuit arranged to distribute an input current into a plurality of branches such that the input current is distributed into a plurality of individual branch currents; wherein each of the plurality of branches includes an inductive arrangement arranged to form an inductive coupling with an associated inductive arrangement of at least one other associated branch, and a plurality of compensator units in electrical communication with the plurality of branches, wherein each compensator unit is arranged to deliver a branch compensating voltage relative to the branch current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Shu Hung Henry Chung, Sui Pung Cheung
  • Patent number: 9509234
    Abstract: A drive controller and a method for operating a drive controller having a converter with a DC link circuit, includes measuring during operation phase currents generated by the converter; forming from the measured phase currents a current vector in a first coordinate system; rotating, with a first transformation angle and with a first rate of change, the current vector into a second coordinate system to generate a resulting current vector; supplying the resulting current vector to a regulator to generate a resulting voltage vector at an output of the regulator; rotating, with the first transformation angle or with a second transformation angle rotating at the first rate of change, the resulting voltage vector back into the first coordinate system to generate a resulting back-transformed voltage vector; and using the resulting back-transformed voltage vector as an influencing variable in addition to U/f control or vector regulation for controlling the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Franz Bauer, Hubert Schierling
  • Patent number: 9496801
    Abstract: An increase in leakage current when a reverse voltage is applied to reverse-blocking insulated gate bipolar transistors is suppressed, thus reducing a loss resulting from the leakage current. A power conversion device includes a bidirectional switch formed by connecting two reverse-blocking insulated gate bipolar transistors having reverse breakdown voltage characteristics in reverse parallel. A control circuit is configured so as to output command signals for bringing the gates of the reverse-blocking insulated gate bipolar transistors, to which a reverse voltage is applied, into an on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shuangching Chen
  • Patent number: 9490719
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a power supply controller includes a first controller, a second controller, a transformation circuit, a switch signal generator. The first controller is configured to provide a first control parameter based on a first power supply measurement signal and the second controller is configured to provide a second control parameter based on a second power supply measurement signal. The transformation circuit is configured to provide a first switching control parameter dependent on both the first control parameter and the second control parameter, and to provide a second switching control parameter dependent on both the first control parameter and the second control parameter. The switch signal generator is configured to generate switching signals that depend on both the first switching control parameter and the second switching control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Luca Scandola
  • Patent number: 9484833
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and a method for controlling PCS voltage and frequency, wherein the system comprises a reference voltage converter, a phase-locked loop, a grid-side voltage converter, a voltage transformer, a first proportional integral controller, a second proportional integral controller, a coordinate converter and a SVPWM generator; a reference voltage converter is connected to an output terminal of a the phase-locked loop, and the output terminal of the phase-locked loop is further connected to a grid-side voltage converter; the grid-side voltage converter is connected to a high-voltage side of an isolating transformer of the electric grid via the voltage transformer; two output terminals of the grid-side voltage converter are respectively connected to the coordinate converter via two proportional integral controllers; an output terminal of the coordinate converter is connected to the SVPWM generator; an output terminal of the SVPWM generator is connected to a power switch of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: State Grid Corporation of China, Xuancheng Power Supply Company of State Grid Anhui Electric Power Corporation, Beijing Hua Teng Kai Yuan Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Yeru Zhou, Jian Wang, Dongsheng Fu, Xiaoma Jin, Dongsheng Zou, Jin Pan, Yi Song, Jianzhou Cheng, Tianwen Zheng, Jianming Wu, Hongbo Luo